Grinding machinery



March 27, 1934. J CASTER r AL 1,952,157

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 14; 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1934. J R' r' 1,952,157

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 14, 1929 '14 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1934.

J. E. CASTER ET AL GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 14. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 27, 1934. J c sTsR ET AL 1,952,157

GRINDING IAGHINERY Filed May 14. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 1 uni s STATES "1,952,157 Y H GRINDING MACHINERY John E. Caster, Frederick J Theler, and Gerald N. Barrere, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to Cin cinnati Grinders Incorporated, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Cincinnati,

Application May 14, 1929, Serial No. 362,930 1$Olain1s. (01. 51-403) This invention relates to improvements in centerless grindingmachinery and has particular reference to a mechanism particularly adapted for use in the grinding of thin cylindrical work pieces such as ball or roller races or similar rings and discs which are relatively thin as respects the diameter thereof. In the grinding of such articles, ordinarily great'care has been necessary to insure proper presentation of the work to the grinding throat to prevent tilting in a vertical or other plane and insure that the outer surface when formed will be exactly normal or at right angles to the ground surfaces of the work piece. I

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of an improved work feeding and controlling mechanism particularly adapted for use in the grinding of this type of article which will properly steady the same prior.

to its introduction into thegrinding throat in a manner to eliminate these tilting difficulties, and by automatic presentation of the work will greatly increase the possible speed of production thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism particularly adapted for use in handling work pieces of appreciable size or weight which will insure a prerotation of the work prior to its entry into the grinding throat and relieve the grinding and regulating wheels of the necessity of overcoming the inertia of the work piece to initial rotation, thus aiding in preventing formation of flats or the like as the work is presented to the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism which will cause a continuous frictional pressure urge of the work in the direction of the grinding throatat a rate in excess of the actual feedof the work through the throat whereby the work pieces within the throat will constantly limit and determine the position of the entering work pieces and prevent chatter between the parts, which might permit the entering pieces to tilt from proper, relation thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in to which an embodiment of this invention has been applied.

' Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a section through the work throat on the line 3-3 of Figure .1.

Figure .4 is. a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4..

Figure '7 is a section on line '77 of Figure 6.

Figure '8 is a section on line 8-'8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a section. on line 99 of Figure 3;

and x e Figure 10 is a section on line 1010 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, wherein like reference charactersrefer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, the numeral 11 refers to th .frarn'e of one type'ofcenterless grindng machine to which an embodiment ofv this invention has been attached. This centerless grinding machine has the usual high speed grinding wheel 12 and the comparatively slow work regulating wheel 13 which is adjustable to and from the grinding wheel by means of the hand wheel 14 to determine the width of the grinding throat.

Supported in the grinding throat and extending therethrough is the work rest'bracket 15 which acts as a support both for the work rest blade 16 and thepush feed structure for feeding the work pieces'l'l onto saidblade in proper position and through thethroat to the discharge trough 18 leading to the discharge receptacle 19. To assist in maintaining the work piecesin proper po-v sition during the grinding, an overhead guide or steady rest 20 is adjustably attached to the front edge of the grinding wheel guard 21 by means of the slotted .arms'22a so as to bear against the top of the workpieces. The workpieces for which this invention is particularly adapted are balllor roller races, brake shoes, rings, discs or a other like thin cylindrical objects :which have 98 a. greater diameter than width, and hence have a tendency to tilt or fall over sideways as they are fedthrough and ground, unless means are provided preventing such action.

The work rest bracket 15 extends a distance from the front edge 'of the grinding machine frame and provides the main supporting member for the push feed mechanism comprising this invention. Supported by the bracket 15, by means about to be described, are a cylindrical roll 22 and a tapered roll 23 forming a feed trough between them. Also supportedby the bracket area pusher trackr24 and pusher feed screw 25'. Projecting at right angles from the rest are pair of fins 26 and 27 providing means '110 the slide 66 and the bolt and slot 66.

for rotatably supporting the rolls 22 and 23 and the screw 25. Bolted to one side of the fin 26 is a cup 28 whose interior surface provides a race 29 for anti-friction bearings 30 rotatably supporting the reduced end 31 of screw 25. The exterior surface of cup 28 provides supporting pivot for a Y-shaped arm 32 adjustably fixed to the fin 26 by a bolt riding in slot 33. A pair of wheels 34 rotatably supported in anti-friction bearings on the arm 32 provide a cradle for rotatably supporting the end of roll 22 nearer the grinding machine.

Bolted through the corresponding side of the fin 27 is a sleeve 35 whose interior provides a race 36 for anti-friction bearings 37 rotatably supporting the outer end 38 of screw 25. Pivoted on the exterior of sleeve 35 and adjustably fixed to fin 27, as at 39, is an arm 40 whose other end provides an antifriction bearing for the end 41 of roll 22.

- Fins 26 and 27 also hear means for rotatably supporting the tapered roll 23 comprising axially and pivotally. adjustable arms 42 and 43. The end of arm 42 is furcated, corresponding to arm 32 and has similar anti-friction rollers 44 forming a cradle for the inner end of tapered roll 23 while arm 43, corresponding to arm 40, provides an anti-friction bearing for end 45 of roll 23. The arms 42 and 43 are slidably supported for axial adjustment in cylinders 46 which have hand adjusting screws 47 threaded into the arms 42 and 43. To provide for rotary adjustment of the arms, the cylinders 46 are pivotallyaffixed to fins 26 and 27 by means of bolts 48 and are held in adjusted positions by bolts 49 riding in slots 50.

To rotate rolls 22 and 23 and screw 25, grooved pulleys 51 are keyed to ends 41 and 45 of rolls 22 and 23 and are rotated by endless belts 52 from a triple pulley wheel 54 keyed on end 33 of the screw 25. 'Ro-tation of wheel 54 is effected by a motor 55 affixed to the grinding machine by a bracket 56 and acting through an endless belt to a reduction gearing 57 and another endless belt 58 to the pulley wheel'54. The gearing 57 is supported on a bracket 59 depending from a plash guard 60, which also serves to collect and return the splashed coolant to the machine.

Projecting from the bracket 15 is another fin 61 to which is afiixed the track 24 for the pusher carriage 62 supported thereon by flanged wheels 63. A curved arm 64 integral with the carriage and projecting at right angles thereto on the grindin wheel side thereof has a pivoted detent finger 65 adjustably affixed thereto by means of The finger 65 will thus push against the work pieces 17 when the carriage travels toward the grinding wheel in a workfeeding direction, but will pivot and pass the work pieces when the carriage is retracted. An arm 67 adjustably aflixed to the carriage as at 68, carries a similar finger 69 for pushing against the work pieces on the other side thereof, while a third similar finger 70 is afiixed to the carriage and engagesthe under portion of the work pieces.

The carriage 62 isadapted to be fed toward the grinding wheel by means of the feed screw 25, thereby positively pushing the work pieces in the feed trough into and through the throat, and is adapted to be manually retracted for engagement with additional work pieces to urge them toward the grinding throat. Projecting at right angles to the carriage, to overlie the feed screw, is an arm 71 having a spring-pressed plunger 72 therein. Depending from plunger 72 is a half nut 73,

threaded to correspond with the threads of feed screw 25. When the half nut 73 is pressed downward by the plunger into contact with the screw 25, the rotation of the screw will operate to feed the carriage and hence the work toward the grinding throat. To retract the carriage, a handle 74 is pinned to a shaft 75 passingthrough the end of arm 71 and a bifurcated finger 76 is pinned to the other end of shaft 75. A stud screw 77, affixed to plunger 72, passes through a slot 73 in the arm 71 and projects between the bifurcations of the finger 76. Pressing handle 74 downward will have the eifect of raising the half nut 73 out of contact with the feed screw, and the carriage may then be manually retracted by means of the depressed handle, the fingers 65, 69 and 70 pivoting against their springs to pass by the new work pieces that have meanwhile been placed in the feed trough formed by the rolls 22 and 23.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that the relationship of the surfaces of the plane and tapered work supporting rolls is such as to present parallel active supporting surfaces to the periphery of the work pieces mounted thereon while at the .same time the rotating surface of the tapered support roll will exert a longitudinal frictional feeding thrust component against the work, urging it into the grinding throat. In many instances the thrust component thus produced, and particularly when light cuts are being taken on the work, will be sufficient to properly maintain contact between the various work pieces of a series. Also the rate of rotation and angle of thrust component of the tapered roll is preferably greater than the feed component of the tilted regulating wheel as customarily employed in centerless grinders, so that there will be a certain constant slippage between the work and outer feed roller support caused by the tendency of the work on the feed mechanism to overrun the work in operative position. In some instances, and particularly when heavy cuts are to be performed and it is desired to more strongly urge the work into grinding position and insure proper initial engagement thereof by the wheels, use is made of the screw power drive for the pusher fingers. It will be particularly noted that this is an impositive drive, due to the fact that pulley 54 is coupled with shaft 38 through a slipping friction clutch mechanism indicated at 80. In normal operation of a grinding machine of this nature, and particularly when heavy cuts are being taken, the grip of the grinding and regulating wheels on the work is such that ordinary manual pressure actually applied to the work is insufficient to accelerate the progress of the work through the machine. Consequently, the work in the machine, moving at a slower rate than is intended to be imparted to the exterior work pieces by the lead and rotation of the feed screw, will hold back or retard the movement of the pusher, causing a slippage to occur in clutch 80. The amount of pressure in the clutch, and thus the frictional resistance to slippage, may be varied by adjustment of the nut 81.

What is claimed is:

1. In a centerless grinding machine having a grinding throat formed between the grinding and regulating wheels, work supporting means in said throat and aligned work feeding means out, side the throat, said work feeding means com prising a pair of rotating members, one of said rotating members being tapered, said rotating members being related to present parallel active faces to the work, whereby the tapered member as rotated exerts a feeding thrust component against the work.

2. In a grinding machine having a grinding throat formed between a grinding and a regulating wheel, work supporting means extending in and beyond said threat, a work rest blade carried by said supporting means in said throat, and work feeding means carried by said supporting means beyond said throat, said work feeding means comprising work rotating means, and means for progressively pushing the work pieces along said rotating means onto the work rest blade. V

3. In a grinding machine having a grinding throat formed between a grinding anda regulating wheel, a work rest bracket extending in and beyond said throat, a work rest blade carried by said bracket in said throat, work feeding means carried by said bracket beyond said throat, said work feeding means comprising a feed trough formed by a pair of rotating members, means'for progressively pushing the work pieces along said trough onto said work rest blade, and a common operating means for said rotating members and said pushing means.

4. In a grinding machine having a grinding throat formed between a grinding and a regulating wheel, work rest bracket carried by said ma chine extending in and beyond said throat, a work rest blade supported by said bracket in said throat, work feeding means supported by said bracket beyond the throat, said feeding means comprising a trough formed by a pair of rotating members, means for progressively pushing the work pieces along said trough onto said blade, a common operating means for actuating said rotating members and said pushing means, and means for disengaging said pushing means from said common operating means and for retracting the same to engage additional workpieces in said trough. r V

5. A device for feeding thin cylindrical work pieces through the: throat of a centerless grinding machine comprising a work rest extending and beyond said throat, a work rest blade on said rest in said throat, a feed trough supported on said rest beyond said throat, and means for progressively pushing the work pieces along said trough onto said blade comprising work contasting means, power operated meansfor advancing the work contacting means toward the machine, and manual means for disengaging said contacting means from said power means and for retracting the same.

6. The combination with a centerless grinder including opposed grinding and regulating wheels providing a grinding throat, of work supporting means within the throat, and means for presenting work pieces to the throat including members forming a work guiding trough exterior to the throat, a pusher member adjacent thereto for actuation of work pieces in the throat, means for positively feeding the pusher member in the direction of the throat, and an impositive drive for said feeding means whereby the rate of advance of the pieces may be controlled by their progress through the threat.

7. The combination with a centerless grinder, of means for feeding work thereto, including a work guiding mechanism, a pusher member for urging work along said guiding mechanism in the direction of the machine, inter-engaged nut and screw devices for feeding the pusher mechanism,

and means for impositively rotating one of said members to permit of lag of the pusher member as respects the feeding urge directed thereagainst by said nut and screw mechanism. i

8. The combination with a centerless grinder, of means for feeding work thereto, including a work guiding mechanism, a pusher member for urging work along said guiding mechanism in the direction of the machinainter-engaged nut and screw devices for feeding the pusher mechanism, means for impositively rotating one of said members to permit of lag of the pusher member as respects the feeding urge directed thereagainst by said nut and screw in chanisin, and means for disengaging the nut and screw mechanism to permit of rapid retraction of the pusher member and its associated part.

9. The comibnation with a centerless grinder including opposed grinding and regulating wheels having their axes angularly related to produce a feed component determining the rate of axial advance of work pieces through the machine, of means for introducing work pieces to the ma chine comprising a pair of rotary members having parallel work supporting surfaces, one of said members being of tapered form, and means for rotating said members to impart a rotary and axial advance and frictional urge against the work at a rate in excess of the f ed rate of the machine whereby the position of the following work piece as it enters the machine is determined by the feed thrust thereagainst.

it. A work feeding mechanism fora centerless grinder or the like in luding means providing a work receiving trough, a pushermember slidably mounted for reciprocating movement substantially longitudinal of the trough, and means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said pusher member including a rotatable teed screw, means securing the screw against axial move ment, a nut member carried by the pusher and engaging the screw and means for imparting an impositive driving urge to the screw to move the pusher longitudinal of the trough.

11. A work feeding mechanism for a centerless grinder or the like including means providing a work receiving trough, a pusher memberslidably mounted for reciprocating movement substantially longitudinal of the trough, means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said pusher member including a rotatable feed screw, means securing the screw against axial movement, a nut member carried by the pusher and engaging the screw and means for imparting an impositive driving urge to the screw to move the pusher longitudinal of the trough, and an adjustable frictional device for varying the force of urge of the pusher member in a feeding direction.

12. A work feeding mechanism for a centerless grinder or the like including means providing a work receiv ng trough, a pusher member slidably mounted for reciprocating movement substantially longitudinal of the trough, means for controlling the reciprocating movement of said pusher member including a rotatable feed screw, means securing the screw against axial movement, a nut member carried by the pusher and engaging the screw and means for imparting an impositive driving urge to the screw to move the pusher longitudinally of the trough, means for an adjustable frictional device for varying the force of urge of the pusher member in a feeding direction, and means for declutching the nut from the screw to permit movement of the pusher independent cf the action of the screw.

13. In a centerless grinder for successively grinding relatively narrow work pieces, the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, means within the grinding throat for supporting said work pieces in contact with the said wheels, and means exterior of the throat for supporting a plurality of said work pieces, feeding same toward said throat in a continuous stream for successive engagement with said wheels and for rotating said plurality of work pieces prior to their engagement with the wheels.

14. In a centerless grinder the combination of opposed grinding and regulating wheels having their opposite faces spaced from one another to form a grinding throat therebetween, the regulating wheel extending beyond the face of the grinding wheel for engagement with the work prior to entry within the throat and for prerotating the said work, means subtending the grinding throat for supporting work pieces while in engagement with the wheels, and additional means exterior of the grinding throat for supporting and rotating work pieces prior to their engagement with the said regulating wheel.

15. In a device of the class described the combination with a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat for supporting work pieces in engagement wtih the wheels, of a bracket member supported by the bed on one side of the grinding throat, bearings extending from the bracket, rotating feeding members having one end journaled in the bearings and forming a work feeding trough, and anti-friction rollers carried by the bracket for peripheral engagement with and support of the other end of the rotating feeding trough members.

16. In a device of the class described the combination with a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat for supporting work pieces in engagement with the wheels, of a bracket member supported by the bed on one side of the grinding throat, bearings extending from the bracket, rotating feeding members having one end journaled in the bearings and forming a work feeding trough, anti-friction rollers carried by the bracket for peripheral engagement with and support of the other end of the rotating feeding trough members, and means for adjusting the journal bearings and anti-friction roller supports radially of the grinding throat.

1'7. In a device of the class described the combination with a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat for supporting work pieces in engagement with the wheels, of a bracket member supported by the bed on one side of the grinding throat, bearings extending from the bracket, rotating members having one end journaled in the bearings and forming a work receiving trough for prerotating work pieces, and anti-friction rollers carried by the bracket for peripheral engagement with and support of the other end of the rotating trough members, the axes of the rotating support members being angularly related to one another to effect a feeding movement of the work through the trough toward the grinding throat.

18. In a device of the class described the com bination with a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat for supporting work pieces in engagement with the wheels, of a bracket member supported by the bed on one side of the grinding throat, bearings extending from the bracket, rotating members having one end journaled in the bearings and forming a work receiving trough for prerotating work pieces, anti-friction rollers carried by the bracket for peripheral engagement with and support of the other end of the rotating trough members, the axes of the rotating support members being angularly related to one another to efiect a feeding movement of the work through the trough toward the grinding throat, and additional means for terminal engagement with the work for axially feeding the work independent of the feed thrust thereon by the rotating members.

JOHN E. CASTER. FREDERICK J. THELER. GERALD N. BABRERE. 

